Apparatus for mounting curved rod

Abstract

A mounting assembly is used to mount a curved rod to a mounting surface. The mounting assembly includes a base, a guide and a cover. The base is fixed to the mounting surface by inserting screws through holes in the base and into the mounting surface. The guide fits around the base and can move along a length of the base. The cover is placed over the base and secured to the guide, such that the cover can also move along the length of the base. The mounting assembly interfaces with an end of the curved rod that approaches the mounting assembly at a given angle. Movement of the cover allows the mounting assembly to interface with ends of curved rods approaching the mounting assembly over a range of angles. The mounting assembly can include a shaft that is connected to the base and interfaces with the end of the curved rod.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for mounting a curved rod, the apparatus comprising:
 a base for securing to a mounting surface; and 
 a cover for substantially covering the base on the mounting surface, 
 wherein the base includes a pair of flanges extending from a surface thereof; 
 wherein the cover includes an aperture; 
 wherein the flanges extend substantially perpendicular to a surface of the base; 
 wherein the flanges are separated by a distance greater than a diameter of an end of the curved rod; 
 wherein the end of the curved rod extends through the aperture in the cover and interfaces with the flanges such that the curved rod can pivot relative to the base secured to the mounting surface; and 
 wherein the aperture of the cover defines a plurality of mounting angles of the curved rod. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the flanges are generally parallel to one another. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a central axis of the aperture is offset from a central axis of the cover. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the curved rod includes a first shaft that is received in a second shaft, and wherein a length of the curved rod is adjustable by moving the first shaft relative to the second shaft. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a shaft pivotably connected to the flanges,
 wherein the shaft is operable to interface with the end of the curved rod. 
 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the shaft is cylindrical;
 wherein the aperture is circular; and 
 wherein a ratio of a largest diameter of the shaft to a diameter of the aperture is within 0.877 and 0.919. 
 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a guide that fits around the base secured to the mounting surface, the guide being movable along the base;
 wherein the cover connects to the guide. 
 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the guide includes a notch for interfacing with a projection formed on the cover to connect the cover to the guide. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the guide has a central opening;
 wherein a first wall and a second wall extend across the central opening; 
 wherein the first wall and the second wall are generally parallel; 
 wherein the base has a first rail and a second rail formed on opposing sides of the base; 
 wherein the first rail and the second rail are generally parallel; and 
 wherein the first rail contacts the first wall and the second rail contacts the second wall when the guide surrounds the base. 
 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein a tooth projects from the first wall into the central opening;
 wherein a recess extends along a bottom of the first rail; and 
 wherein the tooth is located in the recess when the guide surrounds the base. 
 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the flanges includes an opening;
 wherein the end of the curved rod includes an opening; and 
 wherein the curved rod is pivotably attached to the base by a pin extending through the openings in the flanges and the opening in the end of the curved rod. 
 
     
     
       12. A curved rod assembly comprising:
 a curved rod; and 
 a pair of mounting assemblies, each of the mounting assemblies including:
 a base for securing to a mounting surface; and 
 a cover for substantially concealing the base on the mounting surface, 
 wherein for each of the mounting assemblies:
 the base includes a pair of flanges extending from a surface thereof; 
 the cover includes an aperture; 
 the flanges extend substantially perpendicular to a surface of the base; 
 the flanges are separated by a distance greater than a diameter of an end of the curved rod; 
 one end of the curved rod extends through the aperture in the cover and interfaces with the flanges such that the curved rod can pivot relative to the base secured to the mounting surface; and 
 the cover substantially conceals the base at a plurality of mounting angles. 
 
 
 
     
     
       13. The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the flanges of each mounting assembly are generally parallel to one another. 
     
     
       14. The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein for each mounting assembly, a central axis of the aperture is offset from a central axis of the cover. 
     
     
       15. The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the curved rod includes a first shaft that is received in a second shaft, and wherein a length of the curved rod is adjustable by moving the first shaft relative to the second shaft. 
     
     
       16. The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein each mounting assembly further comprises a shaft pivotably connected to the flanges, and
 wherein the shaft is operable to interface with one end of the curved rod. 
 
     
     
       17. The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein for each mounting assembly:
 the shaft is cylindrical; 
 the aperture is circular; and 
 a ratio of a largest diameter of the shaft to a diameter of the aperture is within 0.877 and 0.919. 
 
     
     
       18. The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein each mounting assembly further comprises a guide that fits around the base secured to the mounting surface, the guide being movable along the base; and
 wherein the cover connects to the guide. 
 
     
     
       19. The assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the guide includes a notch for interfacing with a projection formed on the cover to connect the cover to the guide. 
     
     
       20. The assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the guide has a central opening;
 wherein a first wall and a second wall extend across the central opening; 
 wherein the first wall and the second wall are generally parallel; 
 wherein the base has a first rail and a second rail formed on opposing sides of the base; 
 wherein the first rail and the second rail are generally parallel; and 
 wherein the first rail contacts the first wall and the second rail contacts the second wall when the guide surrounds the base. 
 
     
     
       21. The assembly of  claim 20 , wherein a tooth projects from the first wall into the central opening;
 wherein a recess extends along a bottom of the first rail; and 
 wherein the tooth is located in the recess when the guide surrounds the base. 
 
     
     
       22. The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein each flange on each mounting assembly includes an opening;
 wherein each end of the curved rod includes an opening; and 
 wherein each end of the curved rod is pivotably attached to a mounting assembly by a pin extending through the openings in the flanges and the opening in the end of the curved rod.